Production of cellulose from vegetable matter



UNHTED. STATES PATENT QFEEQE.

GONZALO JOSE BUSTAMANTE, OF SOUTH. HADLEY, MASSACHUSETTS.

PRODUCTION OF CELLULUSE FROM VEGETABLE MATTER.

N0 Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GoNzALo J OSE BUSTA- MANTE, a subject of the King of Spain, and resident of South Hadley, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Production of Cellulose from Vegetable Matter, of which the following is a specification.

It is generally known that cellulose obtained from vegetable matter such as lichens, trees, plants and shrubs of various kinds is capable of offering a certain amount of resistance to the destructive action of heat, pressure, acids and other natural agencies of like character. Theoretically, this power of resistance is unlimited; but practical experiments have proven that there is a definite limit, and that not only is the cellulose decomposed but a very considerable part thereof is lost.

The present invention relates to a cold chemical treatment without pressure, which permits separation of the cellulose from all vegetable matter, impurities and other substances surrounding it. Consideration is taken of the fact that the practical capacity for resistance is limited to a marked degree and, hence, only such materials are used as are favorable to the resistance of the cellulose of the vegetable matter treated, do not deprive it of any of its specific properties, and prevent appreciable loss.

In carrying out the present process, the plants, leaves or stems, of leaves and stems, according to their type, are harvested and then are suitably dried.

The thus prepared vegetable material is then immersed in cold water and separated into coarse fibres in order to facilitate the subsequent penetration by osmosis of the liquid of the treatment bath, this bath being preferably prepared as follows:

Anhydrous lime in great quantity is placed on the floor of a container intended for the treatment, and is covered with the vegetable fibres to a desired height. A cold alkaline solution of 2 to 4 B6. is supplied thereto in the form of a shower, and thereafter a certain amount of volatile alkali, preferably ammonia, which may be of 2% strength, is supplied to the surface of the bath in the form of a shower or in any other form by any desired means. When the activity of the bath reaches its height, the bath is acjdulated gradually with hydrochloric V Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an, 3, 1922, Application filed July 26, 1920. Serial No 398,980.

acid in ratio of 2:1000, and then with sulfuric acid in ratio of 1:1000.

After this bath, to the action of which the material may be subjected, for example, for slx hours, the fibrous material is thoroughly washed with cold water and is then placed in a fibre press or mill or subjected to the action of other suitable comminuting mechanism. According to its character, the vegetable material may be placed in a fresh bath of the same character as the previous one, but to which a bleaching agent suited to the vegetable matter under treatment has been added immediately before the introduction of the ammonia or other volatile alkali.

Subsequent baths, similar to those mentioned for the preliminary treatment, may be used according to the degree of comminution of the fibres.

After the more or less great time of treatment in the bath, energetic washing with cold water may be carried out for a certain length of time by means of suitable mechanical devices, and the fibres thus obtained may be bleached and refined as considered advisable.

According to this method of treatment, cellulose fibres are obtained which are completely separated from vegetable matter, impurities and other surrounding substances, so that they are suitable for industrial use, either Without bleaching or after bleaching and further refinement. The cellulose thus obtained has properties which will compete with those of the best grades of cellulose.

I claim as my invention:

1. The process of obtaining cellulose from vegetable matter, which consists in immersing the vegetable matter to be treated in cold water; separating it into coarse fibres; depositing the fibres in a receptacle containing anhydrous lime; successively supplying a .cold alkaline solution and a solution of volatile alkali to said receptacle; successively acidulating the bath thus formed with hydrochloric and sulfuric acids; thereafter washing the fibres with cold Water; and finally comminuting said fibres.

2. The process of obtaining cellulose from vegetable matter, which consists in immersing the vegetable matter to be treated in cold water; separating it into coarse fibres; subj eating the fibres to the action of a bath comprising anhydrous lime, a cold alkaline solution and a solution of volatile alkali; acidulat ng said bath; thereafter washing the fibres with cold Water; and finally comminuting said fibres.

3. A process according to claim 2 in which a bleach agent is added to the bath before the volatile alkali solution.

4. The process of Obtaining cellulose from vegetable matter, Which consists in drying the vegetable matter to be treated; immersing it in cold Water; separating it into coarse fibres; depositing the fibres in a receptacle 10 formed; thereafter Washing the fibres; and 15 finally comminuting said fibres.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. G. J. BUSTAMANTE. 

